Automobile steering-post.



C. T. KOENIGSBERG & H. KOENIGSBERG, SR- AUTOMOBILE STEERING POST.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1908.

918,166. Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FF ICE.

' CHARLES r. KOENIGSBERG AND HENRY KOENIGSBERG,SR., OF HOLLAND,MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE STEERING-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

Application filedlay 9, 1908. Serial No. 481,855. i

5 Holland, in the county of Ottawa, State of Michigan, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvementsin Automobile Steer- Y ing-Posts; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains, to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the steering postsv of automobiles, and hasfor one of its objects to improve the construction and to increase theefliciency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to produce. a device of thischaracter having a strongly constructed and durable intermediate joint,which enables the rod to be turned laterally when not in use, whenrepairs are to be made, or to enable the operator to enter or leave thevehicle. I j 5 With these and other objects in view the inventionconsists in certain novel features of construction ashereafter shown anddescribed and then specifically pointed out in theclaims, and in thedrawings'illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure1 is in part a side elevation and in part a vertical section of aportion of an automobile with the improved device applied. Fig., 2 is aperspective view from beow of the lower portlon of the upper rodsection. Fig. 3 is a perspective view from above of the upper portion ofthe lower rod section.

v The improved device ma be applied to 10 any of'the various automobilesin use without material structural changes, and in the drawings is showna plied to a conventional form of a vehicle of this class,the body ofthe vehicle being re resented at 10.. 5 The improve steeringv rod isconstructed in two sections, a lower section 11 coupled at t e lower endto the steering mechanism, aportion of which is represented at 12, andan upper section 13 to the upper end of which the steering wheel 14 issecured. The sections -11'-1-3 are formed from square metal "tubespreferably of steel with studs 15-16 at the ends to enable them to beconnected I respectively to the steering mechanism and i to the steeringwheel;

The lower section 11 is provided with a sections.

recess'17 in-its upper edge atone side and the upper section 131sprovided with a projem tion 1 8* from its-lower edge at the corresponding sid'e'- and closely fitting the recess ofthe lower section. A pin 19extends through the recess and likewise through the projection of the uper rod section, the parts being thus hingedy united, with the hingeelements also serving as an efiectual means for preventing lateralmovement between the The lower section 11 is also providedv withupwardly extending wings 2l)-21 over which the upper section 13 engageswhen closed, and serving to prevent lateral wit the projection 18 andrecess17.

Swinging at 22 within the lower section 11 at the side opposite to therecess 17 is a catch device 23 extending at. the up er end above thelower section and provided with an outward projection 24 engaging in acavity 25 in the upper section 13,- and thus forming a locking meansbetween the sections when closed. The member is provided with a boss 26and the opposite wall of the lower rod section 11 is provided with asimilar boss 27, the bosses sup ing to maintain t locked osition.

The ower rod section 11 is provided with an aperture 29 opposite themember 23 and the atter is provided with a stud or push button 30extending through the aperture, to enable the member 23 to be releasedwhen the joint is to be broken. By this simple meansa very strong andrigid joint is rovided for the steering rod, which will e cotuall resistall the severe strains to which it will lie subjected, while at the sametime very readily broken at the joint by simply pressing the button 30.The upper portion of the rod may thus be turned for- Wardly toward thehood out of the way when the operator enters-or leaves the vehicle, orturned down rearwardly, or. away from the hood when requiredfor anypurposes, for instance when repairs are to be made and when free accessto the hood is required.

The device is simple in construction, can

e member 23 yielda ly in ates effectually for the purposes-descrited.

What is' claimed, is:.-

an upper and a lower section of square tubular metal with the lowersection adapted to the sides of the lower rod section 11 opposite ortinga spring 28 operat-' be inexpensively manufactured, and 0 er-* Asteering rod for automobiles comprisingdis lacement of the sectlons, Incooperation be connected. to the steering means and the spring operatingto maintain the swinging upper section carrying the steering wheel, a 2member yieldahiy engaged, and a stud ex- 15 recessin the confronting endof one section and tending from the swinging member through aprojeotionextending from the other section 5 the adjacent well of the section inwhich it 5 into the recess, av pin extending through the I is disposed.

projection and likewise through the adje- In testimony whereof We afiixour signaeent walls of the section to form a combined 1 tures, inpresence of two witnesses. hinge and stay, wings projecting from one of7 '1 T \1 s L-HARLES T. AObhIUbBLRG. the sections and extending into theother HENRY KOENIGSBERG SB 10 section, a member swinging within one of zthe sections and extending into the other sec- Witnesses: tion andprovided with a lateral projection CHARLES H. MCBMDE, engaging a cavityin said other section, a'\ H. A. NABERHINS.

